BATS ENSURE POLLINATION OF Bauhinia rufa (Bong.) Steud.

SANTOS, RA; UIEDA, W; GALETTO, L.; GUIMARAES, E.

Bonito

Congreso; Annual Meeting of the Association for tropical biology and Conservation; 2012

ATBC

The fragmentation process may lead to changes in the mutualistic relationship between plants and animals. The activity of pollinators may be modified by reduction of food resources and by the necessity of increasing foraging area. This scenario often obligate the pollinator to go through disturbed areas, and may lead to a reduction in the density of these animals in isolated fragments, resulting in fewer visits and in direct change of the fruit and seeds production. However, positive effects of fragmentation were registered for some pollinator groups. Considering the mentioned aspects, this work aimed to evaluate the behavior and the frequency of bat visits to flowers of Bauhinia rufa (Leguminosae) in six fragments of cerrado in São Paulo state. Two classes of fragment sizes, small (three fragments ≤ 60 ha) and large (three fragments ≥180 ha) were compared. The behavior of floral visitors and frequency of visits were registered between 8:00pm and 12:00am, by direct visual observations, video and photography records. The observations were performed simultaneously in one small and one large fragment from the same region, each night, totaling ca. 30 hours of observation using focal method on 12 plants. Two bat species, Glossophaga soricina (Pallas) andBauhinia rufa (Leguminosae) in six fragments of cerrado in São Paulo state. Two classes of fragment sizes, small (three fragments ≤ 60 ha) and large (three fragments ≥180 ha) were compared. The behavior of floral visitors and frequency of visits were registered between 8:00pm and 12:00am, by direct visual observations, video and photography records. The observations were performed simultaneously in one small and one large fragment from the same region, each night, totaling ca. 30 hours of observation using focal method on 12 plants. Two bat species, Glossophaga soricina (Pallas) and(Leguminosae) in six fragments of cerrado in São Paulo state. Two classes of fragment sizes, small (three fragments ≤ 60 ha) and large (three fragments ≥180 ha) were compared. The behavior of floral visitors and frequency of visits were registered between 8:00pm and 12:00am, by direct visual observations, video and photography records. The observations were performed simultaneously in one small and one large fragment from the same region, each night, totaling ca. 30 hours of observation using focal method on 12 plants. Two bat species, Glossophaga soricina (Pallas) and≤ 60 ha) and large (three fragments ≥180 ha) were compared. The behavior of floral visitors and frequency of visits were registered between 8:00pm and 12:00am, by direct visual observations, video and photography records. The observations were performed simultaneously in one small and one large fragment from the same region, each night, totaling ca. 30 hours of observation using focal method on 12 plants. Two bat species, Glossophaga soricina (Pallas) andGlossophaga soricina (Pallas) and Phyllostomus discolor Wagner, were observed in all the six fragments visiting flowers of B. rufa in a legitimate way, transferring pollen to stigmatic surface during the receptive period. The t-test was performed to compare the mean frequencies of visits per plant between small and large fragments. This comparison did not show significant differences (t = 0.7980, p = 0.4434). Both bat species have almost no restrictions to cross physical barriers, to use a variety of local shelter and food. This ability may allow an equivalent number of visits in both, smaller and larger fragments, which may guarantee pollination in this fragmented landscape.Wagner, were observed in all the six fragments visiting flowers of B. rufa in a legitimate way, transferring pollen to stigmatic surface during the receptive period. The t-test was performed to compare the mean frequencies of visits per plant between small and large fragments. This comparison did not show significant differences (t = 0.7980, p = 0.4434). Both bat species have almost no restrictions to cross physical barriers, to use a variety of local shelter and food. This ability may allow an equivalent number of visits in both, smaller and larger fragments, which may guarantee pollination in this fragmented landscape.B. rufa in a legitimate way, transferring pollen to stigmatic surface during the receptive period. The t-test was performed to compare the mean frequencies of visits per plant between small and large fragments. This comparison did not show significant differences (t = 0.7980, p = 0.4434). Both bat species have almost no restrictions to cross physical barriers, to use a variety of local shelter and food. This ability may allow an equivalent number of visits in both, smaller and larger fragments, which may guarantee pollination in this fragmented landscape.t-test was performed to compare the mean frequencies of visits per plant between small and large fragments. This comparison did not show significant differences (t = 0.7980, p = 0.4434). Both bat species have almost no restrictions to cross physical barriers, to use a variety of local shelter and food. This ability may allow an equivalent number of visits in both, smaller and larger fragments, which may guarantee pollination in this fragmented landscape.t = 0.7980, p = 0.4434). Both bat species have almost no restrictions to cross physical barriers, to use a variety of local shelter and food. This ability may allow an equivalent number of visits in both, smaller and larger fragments, which may guarantee pollination in this fragmented landscape.